Page 57 of Guarded Secrets
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Owen brought his hand to the curve of her neck, his thumb under her jaw, and dipped his head to capture her lips. This kiss felt different. His tongue sliding along hers offering her the promise of something more. She knew that was a false promise even as the heat of his mouth fueled a fever that built, degree by degree.
Burning up, she shrugged out of her coat.
He moved into her, his hands lowering to stroke, long and slow, over her rib cage, over her hips, and under her buttocks. He hitched her up and walked her back to settle her on the kitchen counter. She spread her legs and he moved between her thighs. She sighed when they were lined up exactly right, heat to heat.
Pushing his jacket off his shoulders and onto the floor, she slid her hands under his shirt. He shuddered when she stroked her palms over all that glorious skin. His chest, his ribs, his belly, then lower to his belt. The only illumination in the room shone through the windows from the patio, casting bands of shadow and light.
He sucked in a breath when she worked his belt loose, then the button of his jeans, and when she slipped her hand into the opening and found him, he pushed into her palm with a low groan.
“Bedroom,” he growled.
Forced to release her prize when he scooped her off the counter, she shifted her focus. With her tongue she stroked the hot skin at the juncture of his neck and shoulders. When she couldn’t resist, she sank in her teeth. Only a little. He jerked with an uttered oath. “You marking me, woman?”
“Hell yeah,” she murmured and soothed the bite with her tongue.
She could feel his erection nudging through her clothing. She pushed against it and he staggered, bumping against the wall.
A giggle escaped her mouth. “You’d fail a drunk test, officer.” She rubbed again.
“You try walking a straight line when you’re about to erupt in your pants.” His voice held a thread of desperation. “You’re going to be the end of me, but damn, it’d be a good way to go.”
She laughed against the skin of his throat.
He carried her into her bedroom and laid her on the bed, then turned to switch on the lamp on her nightstand. With a sweep of his arm, he cleared her decorative pillows to the floor.
She loved watching him move with the incredibly fluid grace he possessed. He tugged on the back collar of his shirt to pull it over his head, revealing his rangy build with defined muscles. She figured he had to work out.
His jeans were open at the fly and she gulped at the heavy length of his erection encased in navy briefs. The fever raging inside her had ratcheted up until it felt like she could be burned to ashes.
He took his wallet from his back pocket and retrieved a couple condoms he tossed onto the nightstand.
His skin looked golden in the lamplight.
“You don’t have tattoos.”
“No, neither do you.”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t a Marine or a cop. Both occupations where getting tattoos is the norm.”
His frown deepened. “My biological father was heavily tatted. I wanted nothing to do with the guy. I look like him, can’t help that, but I won’t get inked like him.”
“I have so many questions about that.”
“Later,” he growled. Hand on her ankle, he brought up her leg, pressing his lips to her shin, then moving to the back of her knee.
“Later,” she agreed, her breath catching in her throat.
Leaning over her, he took both of her hands in his and raised them over her head. Muscles bunched and flexed deliciously across his chest as he propped himself over her, lowering his head until his lips were a hair’s breadth from hers.
Heat rising from her belly, over her breasts, and up her neck threatened to ignite her in a fiery ball of need.
“You good with this, princess?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” she chanted as she strained against his hold. “Consent clearly given.” Since he had her hands, she wrapped her legs around his thighs to pull him into her. “Sweet baby Jesus, I’ve got to get out of these flannel pants so I can feel you.”
He chuckled. “Let me help you with that.” He released her hands and moved his to her hips so he could peel off the cotton pants. She had a moment where she wished she wore sexy underwear, but surprise sexy times meant you had to take what you got.
